Author: Rachel Ravencraft

NMPF Prepares for USMCA Review Process

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

NMPF and USDEC submitted comments Oct. 31 to the office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) in response for the agencies request for input into priorities for the upcoming USMCA 2026 joint review.

The organizations call for the U.S. government to ensure that both Canada and Mexico uphold their dairy-related obligations in the agreement.

This includes addressing Canada’s evasion of its market access commitments through its intentionally limited dairy tariff rate quota administration and circumvention of the USMCA export disciplines intended to limit Canada’s propensity to offload dairy proteins onto the global market at artificially low prices that undercut U.S. producers.

NMPF and USDEC also call on USTR to ensure Mexico fully implements the USMCA side letters pertaining to the protection of common cheese names like “feta,” particularly as the European Union seeks to conclude a trade agreement with Mexico that includes restrictions on the free use of generic terms. NMPF and USDEC remain focused on ensuring that U.S. dairy producers and processors receive the full benefits of U.S. trade agreements and are not subject to distortionary trade practices that limit global market opportunities.

 

 

 

NMPF Identifies Dairy Trade Barriers for U.S. Government

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

NMPF and USDEC filed extensive comments Oct. 30 as part of the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) request for global trade barriers for its 2026 National Trade Estimate report.

The list of issues compiled by NMPF and USDEC highlight dairy trade irritants in 34 different markets, including regional blocs like the European Union and parties to the Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement.

Several key issues that the organizations cite include Canada’s refusal to comply with its dairy commitments under USMCA, dairy facility registration challenges across various markets, and the European Union’s long list of trade-distorting measures ranging from certification requirements to the abuse of geographical indications to monopolize common names like “parmesan.”

Supplementing NMPF’s engagement with USTR as cleared confidential advisors, the comments serve as a key resource for the U.S. government as it engages in negotiations with trading partners. The 2025 National Trade Estimate report has served as a guide for crafting the Trump Administration’s reciprocal trade plan. It also offers details on priority dairy markets and products as the U.S. government seeks to resolve barriers to dairy trade and expand market access opportunities.

NMPF Urges Caution on Ultra-Processed Foods

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

NMPF filed comments Oct. 23 in response to USDA and the Food and Drug Administration’s request for information as the agencies explore options for creating a uniform definition of ultra-processed foods.

Researchers have found links between the consumption of highly processed foods and a range of negative health outcomes. However, more research is needed, and there is currently no standard for what amount of processing would make a food “ultra-processed.” The FDA and USDA are attempting to bridge the gap by creating a uniform definition, which would allow for consistency in research and policy.

Because of the processing techniques used for some dairy foods like flavored yogurts, flavored milk, cheeses, and powdered dairy products, the way ultra-processed foods are ultimately defined could affect how these products can be marketed, and whether or not they will be included in federally funded programs such as SNAP, WIC or school meals programs.

In its comments, NMPF urged USDA and FDA to use caution when developing any definition of UPFs, highlighting that previous attempts and currently available UPF classification systems have failed to account for nutrient density and affordability. “If the administration moves forward with developing a definition, it must be developed carefully to avoid misclassification of nutrient dense foods and recognize that not all foods being processed are equal,” the comments said.

NMPF also urged the administration to exempt all dairy foods from any future definition or “ultra-processed” classification, based on decades of research supporting dairy’s health benefits in American diets.

Shutdown Work Includes ELRP Sign-Up Extension

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

As the federal government shutdown continues, NMPF continues to serve as a resource to farmers and remains in contact with USDA and other agency staff to make sure dairy farmer needs are met.

At NMPF’s urging, USDA has committed to giving farmers an extended deadline for applying to the Emergency Livestock Relief Program 2023 and 2024 Flood & Wildfire. When the shutdown began, farmers only had about two weeks with a fully operational USDA to submit ELRP applications online or to their local FSA office. USDA has reassured NMPF it plans to extend the ELRP application deadline into mid-November. Interested farmers should contact their local FSA offices to learn more about details on local hours and services and ask them to discuss their ELRP applications.

NMPF staff are also working with USDA to address issues regarding premium payments and payouts under the Dairy Margin Coverage and Dairy Revenue Protection programs, as well as other matters. Please contact NMPF with any questions or concerns at info@nmpf.org.

NMPF Helps Secure Market Access Gains in Asia

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

NMPF’s ongoing advocacy bore fruit in October with new trade agreements with Malaysia and Cambodia that include strong market access provisions, along with opportunities to extend similar benefits to Thailand and Vietnam, that together open new doors for U.S. dairy in Southeast Asia’s growing markets.

The trade deals better position the United States to compete with global suppliers such as the EU, New Zealand and Australia. “With these new agreements, the administration has delivered big wins for America’s dairy farmers,” Gregg Doud, president and CEO of NMPF, said in a statement celebrating the agreements.

The agreements deliver meaningful, concrete results for U.S. dairy exporters:

  • The Malaysia agreement eliminates nearly all remaining dairy tariffs, creates a new tariff rate quota for fluid milk exports, recognizes the U.S. dairy safety system and streamlines facility registration and certification requirements, all long-standing priorities highlighted and championed by NMPF.
  • The Cambodia agreement achieves similar gains, including a complete elimination of tariffs on U.S. dairy exports and a prohibition on future facility listing requirements that could block trade. Both agreements also include a groundbreaking new model for protecting common food names. The frameworks with Vietnam and Thailand lay out the foundation for similar progress ahead, outlining commitments to address tariffs and regulatory barriers that have challenged U.S. competitiveness in those key markets.

NMPF was able to leave its fingerprints on the agreements through its access to negotiations and longstanding efforts in these markets, coordinating with the U.S. Dairy Export Council. NMPF staff, along with NMPF member Dairy Farmers of America’s Michael Lichte, serve as cleared advisors to the U.S. negotiating team, providing critical technical input on agreement text and dairy priorities.

Earlier this year, NMPF also provided the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and USDA with a detailed, market-by-market analysis outlining tariff disparities, key interests and non-tariff barriers, which helped shape the U.S. approach to negotiations.

NMPF’s persistent advocacy helped make these results possible—from elevating the challenges caused by changing certification rules and facility registration requirements, to defending fair use of common food names, to highlighting competitive disadvantages facing exporters, to emphasizing Southeast Asia’s strategic importance through congressional testimony, public comments, and direct engagement with U.S. officials.

Annual Meeting to Reflect Commitment to Policy, Market Improvements

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

NMPF’s members are ready to convene next week to review the past year and strategize dairy’s future in Arlington, TX for the organization’s 2025 Joint Annual Meeting held with the United Dairy Board and United Dairy Industry Association.

This year’s theme for the Nov. 10-12 gathering, “Driving Results for Dairy,” reflects policy and promotion group commitment to deliver tangible results for dairy farmers and their cooperatives across the dairy value chain.

Featured speakers include nutrition policy expert Nina Teicholz, author of “The Big Fat Surprise,” and dairy economist Dr. Oral Capps from Texas A&M University. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has also been invited to speak at the meeting.

Other general sessions will focus on immigration policy and what it will take for the dairy sector to achieve meaningful progress to improve the farm labor situation. Another general session will address the trade policy environment, at a time when shifting trade policies are affecting customer relationships around the world. That session will also provide an update on the start of NMPF’s new NEXT export assistance program. Speakers will explore fresh strategies, technologies, and partnerships that can open new revenue streams on the farm in a final general session.

Attendees may attend up to three of six different breakout session topics, including those examining the checkoff’s work with NMPF to ensure consumer sales and trust and how the groups leverage science strategically to secure positive positioning for dairy with key opinion leaders. NMPF-led breakout sessions will share the latest on dairy’s economic outlook for the coming year, along with a session on how farmers can best deal with immigration enforcement issues. More information can be found at the meeting website.  

NMPF Young Cooperators are also part of the event, with a two-day track of YC events and educational sessions. NMPF’s Board of Directors also will elect a new chairman, as current Chair Randy Mooney will be stepping down from that position after 17 years.

This year’s annual meeting Dairy Bar is in a grand ballroom that allows attendees an opportunity to network, meet with our 2025 exhibitors, and enjoy the milk, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream donated by our Dairy Bar sponsors. The schedule also includes longer breaks to offer attendees more time to connect with each other at the Dairy Bar between sessions.

Washington May Be Stuck, But We Don’t Have To Be

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

Despite the legislative branch grinding to a halt this October, it hasn’t impaired NMPF’s ability to make progress for dairy farmers. For all you may read about Washington at an impasse, October was not a month of rest at the National Milk Producers Federation.

Some highlights:

  • Trade talks worldwide continue full-steam-ahead, with a fully staffed Office of the U.S. Trade Representative working on agreements that have significant implications for dairy. New framework trade agreements announced with Asian nations including Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam are a big win for the industry. And last week NMPF and the U.S. Dairy Export Council followed that by filing extensive comments as part of the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) request for global trade barriers for its 2026 National Trade Estimate report.

In them we spotlight dairy trade irritants in 34 different markets, including regional blocs like the European Union and parties to the Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement. Several key issues cited include Canada’s refusal to comply with its dairy commitments under USMCA; dairy facility registration challenges across various markets; and the European Union’s long list of trade-distorting measures, which range from certification requirements to the abuse of geographical indications to monopolize common names like “parmesan.”

  • Also on trade, NMPF and USDEC on Friday submitted comments to USTR on its upcoming USMCA 2026 joint review, calling for Canada and Mexico both to uphold their dairy-related obligations in the agreement. That includes addressing Canada’s evasion of its market access commitments and Mexico’s need to fully implement USMCA side letters pertaining to the protection of common cheese names.
  • Regulatory processes are also continuing during the shutdown, and an important one is the government’s attempt to define “ultra-processed” foods, a key priority for the MAHA movement. MAHA’s emphasis on whole and natural foods holds great promise for dairy, but a definition of ultra-processed that’s poorly thought out also carries great risk of unintended consequences for public health, affecting food safety, accessibility and affordability.

Our comments on the definition, sent Oct. 23 to the Food and Drug Administration, ensure that dairy farmer voices are included in this critical definition, which will affect every part of the food chain. And it’s only the latest input we’ve had with the government, as it’s our 11th set of regulatory comments filed this year, on everything from plant-based naming practices to front-of-pack labeling to the upcoming Dietary Guidelines.

  • At USDA, where limited staff have returned to Farm Service Agency offices, we’ve sought, and received, assurances that the Emergency Livestock Relief Program 2023 and 2024 Flood & Wildfire application process is up and running again.  When the shutdown began, farmers only had about two weeks with a fully operational USDA to submit ELRP applications online or to their local FSA office. USDA has reassured NMPF it plans to extend the ELRP application deadline into mid-November. Interested farmers should contact their local FSA office to learn more about details on local hours and services and ask to set up a time to discuss their ELRP applications.

These are only a few of the tangible results we’ve achieved in the past month, even as important conversations continue on immigration, the threat of New World screwworm, and other issues. Even amid dysfunction, functions continue, and we continue to do our best for farmers.

It’s what we’ve been sent to Washington to do. We will continue to make progress during the government shutdown, regardless of how frustrating the situation may be, and we all hope it will end soon. In the meantime, please contact us with any questions or concerns at info@nmpf.org, so we may continue to be a resource as this continues to unfold.

Gregg Doud

President & CEO, NMPF

 

U.S. Dairy Celebrates Market Access Advances in Southeast Asia

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

The National Milk Producers Federation and the U.S. Dairy Export Council praised today’s announcement of new trade agreements with Malaysia and Cambodia and new trade agreement frameworks with Thailand and Vietnam, strengthening U.S. dairy’s position in Southeast Asia’s high-growth market.

“With these new agreements, the administration has delivered big wins for America’s dairy farmers,” said Gregg Doud, president and CEO of NMPF. “Agreements like those struck with Malaysia and Cambodia will ensure we have fair access to Southeast Asia’s fast-growing markets. That’s essential so that our farmers and cooperatives can keep doing what they do best – producing top-quality milk and dairy products for families here at home and around the world. We look forward to working closely with the administration as they turn the new frameworks with Vietnam and Thailand into strong deals as well.”

“These agreements with Malaysia and Cambodia open new doors for U.S. dairy exports in two dynamic markets and the frameworks with Vietnam and Thailand offer the promise of more to come,” said Krysta Harden, president and CEO of USDEC. “By removing tariffs, addressing nontariff trade barriers and cutting red tape, the agreements will make it easier for U.S. suppliers to deliver the high-quality dairy ingredients and foods that Southeast Asia’s growing consumers demand. USDEC appreciates the great work of the U.S. negotiating team in securing these important results.”

The agreement with Malaysia will deliver meaningful gains for U.S. dairy exporters including the elimination of virtually all remaining dairy tariffs, state of the art protections for common cheese names, assurances regarding dairy certification, recognition of the U.S. dairy safety system, streamlining of facility registration requirements, and reinforcement of the vital importance of basing regulations on sound science.

The agreement with Cambodia delivers similar results extending to also include a full elimination of all tariffs on U.S. dairy exports and a prohibition on the establishment or maintenance of a facility listing requirement for U.S. dairy products.

The trade framework agreements with Thailand and Vietnam provide outlines of the provisions with each to come, both offering the promise of similarly strong outcomes on tariffs and nontariff barriers impacting dairy exporters.

Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand are already among the top twenty export destinations for U.S. dairy products, account for $118 million, $127 million and $87 million respectively in sales last year. The new deal comes as the EU advances negotiations on free trade agreements this year with Malaysia and Thailand while Vietnam entered the sixth year of its FTA with the EU this year. All three also have long-standing deals with New Zealand and Australia. In light of this, the U.S. agreements are particularly important to maintaining U.S. competitiveness in this key region. While U.S. dairy exports to Cambodia totaled only $3 million last year, it too offers potential for further growth.

Enter to Win! Ayache Explains National Dairy Leadership Scholarship Program, Raffle

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

NMPF’s Nicole Ayache explains to Dairy Radio Now listeners how the National Dairy Leadership Scholarship Program supports graduate students enrolled in Master’s or Ph.D. programs who are actively pursuing dairy-related fields of research that directly benefit milk marketing cooperatives and the U.S. dairy industry at large. The scholarship is currently hosting a fundraising raffle to raise money for next year’s applicants. Use this link to enter the raffle by Nov. 12: https://go.rallyup.com/nmpf-raffle-2025/.

Dairy’s Future Bright, IDFA, NMPF Chairmen Say

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

Dairy’s future is bright, and it’s brightest when the industry is united toward common goals, the chairmen of the International Dairy Foods Association and the National Milk Producers Federation said.  

“$11 billion or so in projects are happening or about to happen that will significantly grow the industry capacity throughout the country,” said Daragh Maccabee, CEO of Idaho Milk Products and Chairman of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) in the podcast released today. “That means the processor community is stepping up, and we all know that the dairy producer community will do its part as dairy farmers always, always do. And aligned with that investment also comes furthering innovation capabilities or further investment in innovation capabilities so that the U.S. can continue to lead the way in delivering value for milk in increasingly sophisticated ways.” 

The discussion covers the unique qualities of the U.S. dairy industry, including its scale, efficiency, and sustainability. Maccabee and Mooney, who serves as chairman of the National Milk Producers Federation and Dairy Farmers of America, the largest U.S. dairy co-op, with the strength of cooperatives and industry organizations are also highlighted as keys to industry progress. However, dairy faces challenges around labor shortages and trade uncertainty, they said. 

“We need new laws that help farmers continue to have the labor that we need on the farms to produce the milk. And without that, that’s the biggest critical issue that I see as what could affect future dairy production in this country, is just making sure the cows get taken care of and the cows get milked under the labor standards that we have today,” Mooney said. 

Still, the industry’s overall outlook remains something to cheer about, said Mooney, who soon will be stepping down as NMPF’s chairman. Reflecting on nearly two decades of leadership in that role, Mooney said it’s been an honor to be part of a profession that improves people’s lives.  

“This industry is going to be bright for the future of farming. It’s going to be bright for the producers,” he said. “And not only that, what makes me feel good at the end of the day is on our individual farms.” 

To hear more Dairy Defined podcasts, you can find and subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music under the podcast name “Dairy Defined.”  

NMPF’s Bjerga shares latest shutdown updates

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

NMPF Executive Vice President, Communications & Industry Relations Alan Bjerga tells Dairy Radio Now listeners about the latest updates with the government shutdown and how it affects dairy farmers across the country.